Shoe pad



0a. 27, 1942. w. D. BARRY 2,300,091

SHOE PAD Filed NOV. 9, 1940 Patented Oct. 27 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a shoe pad, and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a device of this character adapted to be placed upon a shoe to underlie the sole thereof to provide friction grip to assist bowlers in the pursuit of their play.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind made of rubber and constructed in a manner to be readily slipped upon a shoe to underlie the sole of the shoe from the shank of the shoe to a point spaced inwardly from the toe of the shoe whereby the applied device facilitates traction yet permitting the exposed toe portion of the sole of the shoe to allow for sliding.

The invention has for a further object to provide a pad of this kind which, when not in use, may be rolled or compacted into a relatively small package of a size to be conveniently carried in the pocket of a vest or inserted in the thumbhold of a bowling ball of the type used in the playing of ten pins.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which can be employed with equal facility with the shoe on either foot.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved shoe pad whereby certain important advantages are attained and the article rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating a pad for a shoe constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the pad unapplied;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1, the associated portion of the shoe being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation illustrating a pad constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention, a coacting shoe being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing, my improved pad is made of rubber or kindred material which may be readily rolled or compacted to occupy a minimum of space when not in use. In this embodiment of my invention the pad comprises a sole plate I of desired dimensions and which is of a length to extend from the shank of the shoe S to a point spaced inwardly from the toe of the shoe as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. The rear or shank end of the plate I is continued by an upwardly inclined portion 2 for effective contact with the shank of the shoe, and the rear portion of the plate I or the shank portion 2 thereof is transversely reduced, as indicated at '3, so that it will be assured that the rear portion of the applied pad will have effective holding or gripping action upon the sole of the shoe and thereby eliminate the tendency of the applied pad shifting forwardly during use. This gripping action upon the sole is created through the medium of the upstanding side marginal flanges 4 which have close contact with the sole of the shoe at all points along the flanges 4.

In practice, the transverse diameters of the plate I at all points therealong are slightly less than the corresponding diameters of the sole of the shoe when the pad is applied.

The rear portion of the plate I, or more particularly the rear extremities of the flanges 4, has formed therewith the upstanding loop 5 to tightly straddle the instep portion of the shoe While the forward end of the plate I, or more particularly the flanges 4, has formed therewith the upstanding loop 6 to tightly straddle the forward or toe portion of the shoe. The plate I together with the flanges 4 and the loops 5 and 6 are preferably perforated, as at l, for ventilation.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 5, the sole plate 8 is substantially the same as the plate I hereinbefore referred to. However, the marginal portions of this sole plate 8 have formed therewith the upwardly disposed arch member 9 which straddles the arch and toe portion of the shoe when the device is applied and which member 9 is also provided with the ventilating openings l0.

With the use of my improved pad the sole of a shoe is sufliciently covered by the plate I or 8 I to ,assure effective traction for the bowler and by having the pad toeless a suflicient exposure the leather sole of the shoe to allow for sliding. It is, be obvious that by the use of will be had at the toe therefore, believed to of my improved pad the bowler has all of the benefits and advantages of the general types of bowling shoes together with the further advantage of a pad which, when not in use, may be readily rolled or compacted to be carried in the pocket of a vest or other garment or inserted within the thumbhold of a ball of the type used in the playing of ten pins. Still another material advantage of my improved pad is that the same can be obtained at a very low cost.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a shoe pad constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and used, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself to the precise arrang-ement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A1 pad for removable application to an ordinary shoe to convert said shoe into a bowling shoe, said pad embodying a unitary structure comprising a flexible plate of a length to extend from the shank of the shoe to a point inwardly of the toe so that the toe portion of the shoe will be exposed when the pad is applied to the shoe, the rear portion of the plate being reduced in width upstanding flanges, defining the side margins of the plate and extending from one end to the other, said side flanges overlying the adjacent portions of the side edges of the sole of the shoe when the pad is applied, the rear reduced portionof the plate allowing the rear portions of the flanges to have contact with the side edges of the shoe sole for holding the plate against forward shifting movement along the sole of the shoe, an upstanding loop extending across the plate and connecting the forward end portions of the flanges, and a second upstanding rear loop connecting the flanges at the rear reduced portion of the plate, the first loop to engage over the toe of the shoe and the second loop to engage over the arch of the shoe for holding the pad upon the shoe.

2. A pad for removable application to an ordinary shoe to convert said shoe into a bowling shoe, said pad embodying a unitary structure comprising a flexible plate of a length to extend from the shank of the shoe to a point inwardly of the toe so that the toe portion of the shoe will be exposed when the pad is applied to the shoe, the rear portion of the plate being reduced in width, upstanding flanges defining the side margins of the plate and extending from one end to the other, said side flanges overlying the adjacent portions of the side edges of the sole of the shoe when the pad is applied, the rear reduced portion of the plate allowing the rear portions of the flanges to have contact with the side edges of the shoe sole for holding the plate against forward shifting movement along the sole of the shoe, an upstanding loop extending across the plate and connecting the forward end portions of the flanges, and a second upstanding rear loop connecting the flanges at the rear reduced portion of the plate, the first loop to engage over the toe of the shoe and the second loop to engage over the arch of the shoe for holding the pad upon the shoe, the pad, flanges and loops being provided with perforations. 7

WILLIAM D. BARRY. 

